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The machine was on a work site at Westbrook Primary School in Hounslow when it was stolen.

A tracker installed on the machine revealed that it had been driven six miles to Wheatley's home in Diamedes Avenue.

When the owner drove to the street, he told a PCSO officer what had happened who noticed a transit van with a low suspension parked in a driveway, the court heard.

On opening the van, the roller was discovered inside.

The other offence related to the attempted theft of a mini-digger worth £15,000 on June 11 2015.

The owner saw Mr Wheatley interfering with a metal fence outside his house at 5.10am and another man sat in his mini-digger. When the man went to confront the defendant, he fled the scene.

Mohammed Bashir for the defence told the court that Wheatley had become involved in the thefts as he was finding it difficult to make ends meet suffering from a lung condition and living on disability benefits.

According to Mr Bashir, Wheatley was just acting as a driver on the promise that he would be paid a small fee of £40 to 60.

Wheatley received a sentence of 12 months suspended for 20 months, and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100 and costs of £300 which will be deducted from his disability benefit.

He was also given a curfew between 9pm and 6am for 30 days and a disqualification from driving for six months.